Athletic helmet



March 14, 1939. J. A4 MULVEY ATHLETIC HELMET Filed Oct. 30, 1957 2Sheets-Sheet l ,ffl asap);

March 14, 1939.

J. A. MULVEY ATHLETIC HELMET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed OC. 30, 1937 ,J. .JT

Patented Mar. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENToFricEj ATHLETIC HELMETJoseph A. Mulvey, Andover, Mass.

Application October 30,

10 Claims.

This invention relates to an athletic helmet for use in football andother athletic games.

Heretofore it has been customary to provide helmets to be worn byplayers in football and other athletic games for the purpose ofprotecting the head from injury. To maintain the crown of the helmetabove the top of the wearers head to prevent the head from receivingdirectly the impact of blows on the crown of the helmet, it has beencustomary to provide in the upper part of the helmet a pair ofnon-stretchable cross straps arranged at right angles to each other andhaving their ends fastened at the base of the crown portion of thehelmet. These straps engage the head of the wearer and maintain thehelmet with its crown in spaced relation to the head. 'I'hisconstruction, however, is not very satisfactory since the impact ofblows on the top of the helmet is directly transmitted to the head ofthe wearer through the medium of the straps without any substantialdiminution of the force of the impact and consequently injuries arefrequent.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a helmetequipped with pneumatic cushioning devices for protecting the head ofthe player against shocks and impacts.

Another object is the provision of cushioning devices which aredetachably fastened in the helmet by means permitting the devices to bequickly detached when necessary and new cushioning devices installedwithout appreciable loss of time.

Yet another object is the provision of a cushionlng device to be engagedby the crown of the head which is adapted to center the helmet upon thehead and to afford a space in the crown of the helmet for absorbing headblows and impacts.

A further object is the provision of a helmet of the character describedwhich is of simple yet efilcient construction.

Other objects of the invention will be set forth and describedhereinafter.

My invention contemplates a helmet comprising a easing of any suitableform of construction adapted to engage the head of the wearer and havingin its crown portion a pneumatic cushion interposed between the head ofthe wearer and the crown of the helmet. Preferably, the cushion is ofannular tubular form and is fastened to the inner face of the helmetaround the base of its crown portion to provide a space between thecushion and the top of the helmet. Any suitable means may be providedfor fastening the cushion in place but preferably it is provided with ape- 193'1, serial No. 171,858 If cured at its other edge around the`base line ofk the crown portion of the helmet. I

One of the important features of my invention resides in attachingthepneumatic cushion to the helmet in such a manner that it maybe easilyand quickly detached and a newcushion substituted whenever circumstancesrequire it. Various means may be used for this purpose such as lacingsor what is commonly called zippers, In using the formerthe flange of thecushion and the free edge of the fastening strip are provided witheyeleted holes and these two parts may be securely fastened together bylacings passed through the holes. Inthe latter, the edges of the flangeand of the fastening strip are provided with complementary "zippermembers adapted to be locked together by the operation of the usualwell-known "zipper fastener.

My invention also contemplates the provision of an elongated tubularpneumatic cushion adapted to be fastened in the front portion of ahelmet for protecting the forehead and temples of the wearer and thiscushion may be fastened to the helmet by any suitable means in the samemanner as the crown cushion, so that,wwhen necessary, it may be easilyand quickly removed to permit the substitution of another cushion.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment of theinvention, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a helmet constructed inaccordance therewith; c

Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view on line 2--2 in Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View on line 3-3 in Fig. 2, showing thecrown pneumatic cushion and lacing means for fastening it within thehelmet in plan View; 4 i

Fig. 4 is a plan View on a reduced scale of the crown cushion adapted,for lacing attachment t0 the helmet; p .A

Fig. 5 is a central vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 2 of theupper portion ofV the helmet, show-- Referring vto the drawings, Ilindicates generally a casing of any suitable construction adapted toenclose the head of the` wearer and having a crown portion II, a frontportion I2, a back portion I3 and depending side portions or ear napsI4. An extensible strap vI5 mounted in holes I6A in the lower ends ofthe ear naps serves to fasten the helmet in position upon the head ofthe wearer.

The crown II may be made of nbre board or other suitable stiftnon-yielding material and may be reinforced by a lining I9 of suitablematerial such.. as canvas or duck and'on the outside by straps 20preferably of -leather running from front to rear and fastened theretoby suitable stitching 2I. 'I'he lining I9 may be extended downwardly toreinforce the front and back and the side flaps which are preferably ofleather. In addition, these parts are provided with a relatively thicklining 22 of felt or other cushioning material.

Behind the front portion I2 and extending the full width of said frontportion is inserted a panel 23 of stiif material such as fibre board orleather board, which is shaped to curve outwardly, thereby producing abulge on the lower portion of the front of the helmet. A portion 24 ofthe felt lining 22 is turned upwardly in engage-- ment with the panel23, thereby forming a pocket 25 between the two portions of the feltlining. The purpose of this pocket will be described hereinafter. All ofthe foregoing parts of the helmet are fastened together by any suitablemeans 4 such as lines of stitching 21.

The casing is provided in various parts with suitable holes 28 forventilation, and the ear flaps have each a larger hole 29 adapted toregister with the ear of the wearer to facilitate hearing when thehelmet is worn.

My invention resides in the provision of pneumatic cushioning devices inthe helmet for absorbing the impact of blows or shocks on the head ofthe wearer. The more important of these devices is adapted for mountingin the crown of the helmet and in its preferred form comprises apneumatic cushion in the form of an annular tube 30 provided with aperipheral, outwardly extending and integral flange 3| (Fig. 4). Thetube and flange may be made of any suitable material such as rubber orrubber composition. Since the flange serves for fastening the tube inproper position in the helmet, it may be reinforced by a thin layer 32of suitable fabric or other material. The tubular portion 30 is providedwith a valve 34 for inating it with air under pressure. Any suitableform of valve may be employed for this purpose, such as a valveconstructed in accordance with United States Letters Patent No.1,992,764 to I. D. Perry, issued February 26, 1935.

For fastening the cushion in the top of the helmet, preferably insuspended position and spaced apart from the crown, a strip 36 of exiblematerial such as leather is fastened to the inner face of the helmetentirely around the base of the crown portion II by any suitable meanssuch as stitching 31. Along its upper free margin, the strip 36 isprovided with a continuous series of holes 38, preferably eyeleted, andthe ange 3| of the cushion has a similar series of holes 40. These twoparts are fastened together by lacing 42 passed through the holes 38 and40 (Fig. 3). A pair of lacings may be used for this purpose, but onelacing doubled will be found more practical because it necessitates butone knot.

In Figures 5 and 6, there is shown another means which maybe usedl forfastening the crown cushion in the crown of the helmet. This meanscomprises what is commonly known as a zipper" device. in which the twoedges to be attached together are provided with complementary series ofteeth adapted to be locked together or unlocked by a traveling cammember. In using this device, the top edge ofthe fastening strip 36carries aseries of zipper teeth 46 and the .outer edge of the ilange IIof the crown cushion carries a complementary series of zipper teeth 41,the two series being adaptedto be locked together by the traveling cammember 48. f It is apparent that the use of this means permits the crownbladder to be changed in a helmet in a few moments.

The other cushioning device contemplated by my invention, which may betermed a brow cushion, is in the form of an elongated attened tube 50adapted to be mounted in the pocket 25 in the front of the helmet forprotecting the forehead and temples of the wearer. Along its top edge,the tube is provided with an upwardly cxtending flange 52 integraltherewith for fastening it in position in the front of the helmet, whichange may be reinforced in the same manner as the ange of the crowncushion.

The brow cushion is mounted in the pocket 25 formed in the front of thehelmet and extends around the two sides of the helmet, a distancesufficient to protect the temples of the wearer. 'Ihe pocket 25 formedin the front of the helmet between the felt layers may, if desired, beextended to its sides, but when this is done, it is preferable to extendalso the ends of the reinforcing panel 23 and to bulge outwardly thesides of the helmet similarly to the front.

For fastening the brow cushion in position, its ange 52 is provided witha marginal series of holes 56, preferably eyeleted, and the bottom edgeof the fastening strip 36 is provided with a similar series of eyeletedholes 58, so that these two parts may be fastened together by lacing 60in the same manner employed for the crown cushion. In place of thelacing attachment, the zipper means may be used for fastening theseparts together by providing their engaging edges with complementaryzipper elements and a locking cam.

In preparing the helmet for use, the two cush ions are inflated in theusual manner. The valves of both are positioned in register withVentilating holes 28 which permit a needle to be inserted through suchholes into each valve for inflating the cushion, after which the needleis withdrawn and the valve is automatically closed by the pressure inthe cushion. The helmet is then ready for use.

In use, the top of the wearers head engages the crown cushion which,because of its circular form, tends to center the helmet on the head andto maintain it in that position. Since there is a space between thecushion and the crown of the helmet, any blow upon that part isdissipated downwardly through the sides of the helmet and then upwardlythrough the fastening strip to the cushion. The impact of the blow isthereby spread all around the helmet instead of being transmitted in adirect line and its reduced force is then absorbed by the cushion. Oneof the direct results secured by my construction is that the impact ofblows on the top of the head is spread around the helmet whichdissipates the force of that impact. Whatever force finally reaches thecushion is again spread over the entire area of the cushion and absorbedby it, so that the wearer suffers no shock.

To a slightly less marked degree, the brow cushionl operates in the samemanner to protect the forehead of the wearer from the impact of blowsthereon.

One of the important advantages of my invention is that the cushion, incase of deflation due to the failure of the valves, or other cause, maybe very easily removed from the helmet with the expenditure of verylittle time and effort and new cushions mounted in their places. Thisoperation, whether or not the lacing or zipper means are used, can becarried out in a very few minutes.

It is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to theprecise construction herein shown and described, since it may beembodied in various other forms within the purview of the followingclaims,

What I claim is:-

1. A helmet comprising a casing adapted to t over the head of thewearer, an annular pneumatic cushion mounted within said casing adjacentthe crown portion thereof but spaced apart therefrom, said cushionhaving a peripheral reenforced flange detachably fastened to said casingand being adapted for engaging the crown of the head of the wearer forprotecting it against shocks and impacts.

2. A helmet comprising a casing adapted to fit over the head of thewearer, a strip of flexible material fastened along one longitudinaledge thereof to the interior face of said casing around the bottom ofthe crown portion and an approximately annular pneumatic cushion ofrubber composition having an integral peripheral flange detachablyfastened to the free edge of said strip in spaced relation to the crownof said casing, said cushion being adapted to engage the crown ofthehead of the wearer for protecting it against shocks and impacts.

3. A helmet comprising a casing adapted to t over the head of thewearer, a strip of sheet material fastened along one longitudinal edgethereof to the interior face of said casing around the bottom of thecrown portion and an annular pneumatic cushion having a reenforcedperipheral flange detachably fastened to the free edge of said strip tohold said cushion in spaced relation to the crown of said casing, saidcushion being adapted to engage the crown of the head of the wearer forprotecting it against shocks and impacts.

4. A helmet comprising a casing adapted to fit over the head of thewearer, a strip of flexible ma.- terial fastened along one longitudinaledge thereof to the interior face of sald casing around the bottom ofthe crown portion, an annular pneumatic cushion mounted in the crownlportion of said casing in spaced relation thereto, said cushion havinga peripheral flange, and means for detachably fastening said flange tothe free edge of said strip.

5. A helmet comprising a casing adapted to t over the head of thewearer, a strip of flexible material fastened along one longitudinaledge 'thereof to the interior face of said casing around the bottom ofthe crown portion and having its free edge provided with lacing holes,an annular pneumatic cushion mounted in the crown portion of said casingin spaced relation thereto, said cushion having a peripheral flangeprovided with lacing holes, and lacing threaded through said holes fordetachably fastening said flange to the free edge of said strip. e

6. A helmet comprising a casing adapted to flt over the head of thewearer, a strip of flexible material fastened along one longitudinaledge thereof to the interior face of said casing around the bottom ofthe crown portion, an annular pneumatic cushion mounted in the crownportion o1 said casing in spaced relation thereto, said cushion having aperipheral` flange, and a zipper device for detachably fastening saidflange to the free edge of said strip.

7. A helmet comprising a casing adapted to fit over the head of thewearer, an annular pneumatic cushion fastened in the crown portion ofsaid casing for cushioning the top of the head of the wearer and anelongated tubular pneumatic cushion mounted inside the front of thehelmet for cushioning the forehead of the wearer, both of said cushionsbeing provided with valves permitting their inflation and with integralflanges provided with lacing holes for fastening them within' saidhelmet.

8. In a helmet, a pneumatic cushion comprising a tubular member ofapproximately annular form provided with a valve permitting itsinflation and with an integral peripheral flange adapted for fasteningit in suspended position in the crown of the helmet.

9. In a helmet, a pneumatic cushion comprising a tubular member ofapproximatelyannular form provided with a valve permitting its infiationand with an integral peripheral flange provided with closely associatedholes for lacing it inl detachable position in the crown of the helmet.

10. In a helmet, a pneumatic cushion comprising a tubular member ofapproximately annularv form provided with a valve permitting itsinflation and with an integral peripheral flange having secured to itsmarginal edge a "zipper element adapted to co-operate with acomplementary zipper element for detachably fastening said cushion inthe crown of the helmet.

JOSEPH A. MULVEY.

